Robert Horry demands respect for one Los Angeles Lakers star apart from the team’s Big 3.
Since the Luka Doncic trade, the headlines have praised the Los Angeles Lakers for creating a Big 3 by pairing the ex-Dallas Mavericks superstar with LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
For what it’s worth, the trio has been nothing short of incredible for the Lakers over the last few games. They helped the team extend their winning streak with a dominant win over the Mavericks.
However, amid the praise for the Big 3, former NBA star Robert Horry believes that fans are underestimating the value of Rui Hachimura on the roster.
Doncic, James, and Reaves will likely remain the focal point of the Lakers’ offense for the rest of the season. The three stars are capable of scoring and creating for others on any given night.
This has somewhat allowed fans to overlook Hachimura’s contributions as the fourth option on the team, per Horry.
“This is the big three, but there’s a big four. I’m like, RH [Rui Hachimura], there’s a big four. We don’t talk about RH, and if I talk about this RH I’m talking about Rui,” Horry said after the game.
He added: “You just mentioned to me he’d be playing bully ball tonight. He had 15 points. He was the best on the team in the +19. But yet y’all forget about RH.”
“He gets forgotten about. Give him his due… talk about it more,” the 7x NBA champ concluded.
Indeed, Hachimura deserves more respect from Laker Nation as part of the team’s core. His presence certainly lifts the Purple and Gold to a championship contender.
As expected, the majority of the media was focused on Doncic’s first game vs the Mavericks since the infamous trade. Doncic didn’t disappoint with the 81st triple-double of his NBA career.
Let’s keep that on the back burner for a second and focus on Hachimura’s performance.
Rui contributed 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists in 38 minutes of playing time, all while earning a +19 plus-minus against the Mavs.
Hachimura is proving head coach JJ Redick, who believes that the 27-year-old is capable of adjusting his game as required. He finds ways to impact the game, be it on the offensive or the defensive end of the floor.
The Lakers have now improved to a 35-21 record as they continue their march toward potentially finishing as the second seed in the Western Conference.
